What Happens to My Bail Bonds After I Get Released?

Bailing a friend or loved one can help them stay out of jail. You can work with a bail bonds agent or company to write a surety bond or pay the cash amount requested by the court. Property bonds are also common and function more like cash bail. The court will return your bail money, minus the premium owed to the bond agency, after the case is closed, regardless of the outcome. You must fulfill specific requirements before getting your money back.

Surety Bail

You can enlist the services of a bail agent or company to write a surety bond. This option is cheaper than paying the full cash bail to the court. The bail agent will cover the bond and ask you to pay a bail premium. A premium is a percentage of the cash bail amount. Bail bond premiums are non-refundable. The amount is the bail agent’s fee for their services.

Bail agents who write surety bonds also manage the defendant to make sure they attend all court appearances. If the defendant attends all proceedings as ordered by the court, the bail agent will receive the bond amount back. Bail agents also have clauses to protect them if the defendant doesn’t show up to court. The bail agents may request collateral before writing the surety bond.

Cash Bail

You can pay the court the full amount (cash bail). If you choose this option, the court will return your money after the defendant makes all required appearances. Sometimes the court holds on to a small percentage for administration. Cash bail is paid back whether the defendant is found guilty or innocent of the charges. The court will discharge the bond at the time of sentencing.

The money will be forfeited if the defendant doesn’t appear in court as ordered. Bail bonds are only returned on the condition that the defendant will show up to all meetings. Missing even one court appearance is enough to lose your bail bond. If you want your money back, your loved one must attend all ordered court proceedings.

Property Bond

If you don’t have the money to post bail, you can use property, such as land, a car, jewelry, or machinery. Securing a bond involves offering the real value of your property in exchange for the defendant’s release. The court can hold onto property certificates, titles, or deeds. Sometimes the court takes possession of the property, like in the case of jewelry.

Property bonds work more like cash bail. Once the case is finalized and the defendant is released, the court discharges the bond and returns the deeds. The court can legally seize the property exchanged for their bond if the defendant doesn’t attend all required appearances. Sometimes, the court allows the person to pay the bond amount in exchange for seized property.

Where To Secure Bail Bonds 

Securing bail bonds isn’t a problem, thanks to bonding companies. You can get a bond agent to write your surety bond and release your friend or loved one from jail as soon as possible. The agent will handle everything and charge a small fee for their service. You can also pay cash bail or use your property, but surety bail bond services are the most reliable. The agent will manage the defendant and help them attend all court appearances. Contact a local bail bonding agency if you have any questions about the process.